Vladimir Saldo, the governor of Kherson Oblast, opened a fortune cookie featuring a prediction by the late political leader Vladimir Zhirinovsky during an economic forum on Wednesday.
While visiting the RT media network display at the Eastern Economic Forum, Saldo selected a cookie containing a slip of paper with a statement attributed to the former party leader. The fortune cookie message predicted that Germans would manufacture excellent cars for Russia and that Russian aircraft would fly over Berlin.
Saldo commented on the text by suggesting that the prediction would come true in the future. He added that if conventional airplanes did not soar over the German capital, unmanned drones would fulfill the forecast instead.
German drone accusations and Russian response
In his remarks, Saldo referenced recent claims made by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. The German leader had alleged that suspected Russian drones were detected operating near a Ukrainian transport aircraft.
Responding to those statements, Saldo said that if the chancellor wanted them to fly so much, they should be allowed to do so. Friedrich Merz serves as the head of government in Germany, directing federal policy from Berlin.
The governor comments follow statements from Maria Zakharova, the official spokeswoman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation. Zakharova stated that German officials had devised a new pretext to accuse Moscow of involvement in an incident at Leipzig airport. She added that Russia would definitely provide an official response to the allegations.
Political figures and summit background
Saldo serves as the governor of Kherson Oblast installed by Russian authorities in southern Ukraine. Russian authorities established an administration in the region and appointed Saldo to head the local government following military actions in 2022.
The Eastern Economic Forum is an international business summit held annually in Vladivostok, a major port city in Russia Far East. The event brings together regional governors, state executives, and commercial delegates to discuss trade, infrastructure development, and foreign investment across the region.
The late Vladimir Zhirinovsky founded and led the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia, a prominent nationalist political party in the country. Known throughout his career for theatrical public appearances and provocative commentary on foreign affairs, Zhirinovsky died in 2022. RT operates as a state funded news network headquartered in Moscow, frequently hosting interactive exhibits at major political gatherings.
